Lock for railroad-switches



(No Model.)

N. NEWMAN.

LOOK FOR RAILROAD SWITCHES.

No. 411,998. Patented Oct. 1, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON NEl/VMAN, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

LOCK FOR RAILROAD-SWITCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,998, dated October1, 1889. Application filed May 1, 1889. serial No. 809,278. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NELSON NEWMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield,in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinLocksforRailroad-Switches; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in locks for railroad-switches;and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devicesthat will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatusembodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same, taken on a plane at rightangles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the lockingplateand case and a plan view of the key. Fig. 5 is an inverted perspectiveview of the locking-plate.

Arranged at the switch and beyond one side of the track is a base-plateA, on which is a box or case B, that is rectangular in form and has oneside open. Rising from the said box or case is a vertical tube 0, to theupper end of which is secured a circular case D, which is provided 011one side with a slot E, that extends around about one third thecircumference of the case. At the ends of the said slot, in the upperside of the same, are re-entering notches 1 2, arranged in pairs, asshown.

On the inner side of the circular case, opposite the slot E, is anannular shoulder F, in the upper side of which, and arranged directlyopposite the pairs of notches l 2 diametrically, are notches 1 2,respectively. A vertical rock-shaft G is journaled in the upper andlower sides of the case, at the center thereof, extends down through thetube 0, and has its lower end stepped in an opening in the base-plate.To the said rock-shaft,

near the lower end thereof, is attached an arm H, which extends from theopen side of the box B. That portion of the rock-shaft which is abovethe bottom of the circular case is squared 0r angular in form, as at I.

A lock-plate K is arranged across the cen ter of the circular case andwithin the same, and in the center of the said lock-plate is an angularopening, through which the angular portion of the rock-shaft extends.The said lock-plate is thus caused to rotate with the rock-shaft, and isadapted to move vertically thereon between the lower and upper sides ofthe circular case. At one end of the lockplate is a stud L, which isadapted to engage the notches 1. 2. In the underside of the lock-plateand extending to the opposite end thereof is an opening M, whichcommunicates with the slot E, and the upper side of the said opening isinclined and forms a camface N. A spring 0 presses downward on thelock-plate. Alink P connects the arm H to the switch-rails R.

A key S, having a handle T, is provided at its end with a pair of armsU, having their upper sides tapered to a point, and thereby formingcams. The notch V between the arms is of suitable width to engage thesquared or angular portion of the rock-shaft when the key is inserted ateither end of the slot E into the opening M of the lock-plate. Bypressing in on said key its inclined faces, by engaging the inclinedcam-face N, force the lock-plate upward, and thereby disengages its studL from the notch 1 or 2, and thereby render the rock shaft free to beturned, so as to cause its arm H and the link 1? to move theswitch-rails, the key serving as a lever for thus turning therock-shaft. When the latter has been moved the requisite distance tocause the switch-rails to align with the side or main track rails, asmay be desired, the stud L aligns with the notch 1 or 2 at the instantthat the key reaches the end of the slot, and as the keyis removed thespring forces the lock-plate downward and causes its stud L to enter theregisteringnotch, and thereby effectually lock the switch-rails inposition.

A target or signalarm V? is attached to the upper end of the rock-shaftand serves to indicate to an approaching train at a glance the positionof the switch.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of thecase having the notches and the slot, the rock-shaft extending throughthe ease and having the arm connected to the switch-rails, thelock-plate fast to and movable vertically on the rock-shaft and havingthe cam-opening communicating with the slot and the stud adapted toengage the notches, and the key adapted to enter the cam-opening andraise the lock-plate and to engage the rock-shaft, for the purpose setforth, substantially as described.

2. In a switch-lock, the combination of the rock-shaft having theconnections to the switclrrails, the case having the slot and thenotches diametrically opposite the ends of the slot, the lock-plate inthe case, revoluble with and movable vertically on the rockshaft andhaving the cam-opening at one end communicating with the slot and thestud at the opposite end adapted to engage the notches, the springpressing down on the lock plate, and the key-lever adapted to beinserted in the cam-opening to raise the lockhaving the cam N, andfurther adapted to engage the ease and lock the shaft fast therein, andthe key-lever having the cam U to engage and trip the lock-plate, andthe open slot V to simultaneously engage the shaft and enable the latterto be turned, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELSON NEWVMAN.

*itnesses:

WM. R. BowERs, DORA ADAMS.

